ANNUAL LEAF REMOVAL

ANNUAL LEAF REMOVAL: Our Buildings & Grounds team needs your help on this Saturday, Dec. 13 (9:00 a.m.—12:00noon as a makeup day from Dec. 6) to clean up leaves around our buildings and driveways. Bring any work gloves, tarps, rakes, and leaf blowers that you have. For more information, contact Bill Hoffman (wmhoffman@verizon.net).

ANNUAL PLEDGE CAMPAIGN

ANNUAL PLEDGE CAMPAIGN: Aquia Church can make its best plans for God’s mission and ministry here in 2026 when everyone supports this important work as generously as possible. This campaign has started strong but is not finished. Currently, we have received considerably fewer dollars pledged than we anticipate needing for next year’s expenses. So if you have not yet submitted your financial pledge for next year, extra blank pledge cards are available on the tall table at the back of the church or from the church office. If you have any concerns or questions about pledging, please speak confidentially with our treasurer, Chris Arey (treasurer@aquiachurch.org), or with Father Morris.

SPECIAL OCCASIONS DURING ADVENT

SPECIAL OCCASIONS DURING ADVENT: The ECW’s annual meeting will be held in the great hall on this coming Sunday, Dec. 14 at 9:15 a.m., with breakfast available starting at 8:30 a.m. Our children’s Christmas pageant with Holy Communion will be held in the great hall also on this coming Sunday, Dec. 14 at 10:30 a.m.

POINSETTIAS 

POINSETTIAS: Help us decorate the church for the Christmas season. Pick up the flower contribution form and return it with your $20 donation so that the flower guild can secure festive poinsettias, wreaths, and garland for the historic church. In order to have your dedications included in the bulletins for Christmas Eve and Day, forms and donations must be received by Friday, Dec. 19.

DECORATING FOR CHRISTMAS 

DECORATING FOR CHRISTMAS: The flower guild invites you to help decorate the historic church for Christmas on Saturday, Dec. 20, starting at 10:00 a.m.

ECW’s ADVENT GIFT SHOP

ECW’s ADVENT GIFT SHOP: There are only two Sundays left to visit our shop, located at the tables on the west side of the great hall; and we’ll be open all morning on this coming Sunday. There are taper candles for your Advent wreath, in case you need replacements. We have beautiful gold Aquia Church ornaments and notecards, and church members recipe books available as well. Of course, we still have the popular sock monkeys (so a certain little child will be more inclined to make his or her bed for his or her sock monkey’s new home). We also have Christmas trees made out of buttons on a stand-up picture frame. For further information please contact Carolyn Hendrickson (docnpch@gmail.com).

OFFERING ENVELOPES

OFFERING ENVELOPES: If you usually receive offering envelopes, the 2026 packets are available at the back of the church. If you no longer want envelopes, or if you would like to start using envelopes, simply contact parish administrator Sue Selz (sue.selz@aquiachurch.org or 540-659-4007).

DONATING THROUGH ZELLE

DONATING THROUGH ZELLE: You may now contribute to Aquia Church with this convenient electronic service. Simply send funds to <treasurer@aquiachurch.org>.

MORNING CALL

MORNING CALL: Morning Call is our Sunday morning forum for adult formation and discussion, held in the great hall (9:30—10:15 a.m.). On this coming Sunday (Dec. 14), Morning Call will not be held so that the ECW’s annual meeting can take place instead.

CHRISTMAS EVE AND DAY SERVICES

CHRISTMAS EVE AND DAY SERVICES: Our Christmas Eve services will be held at 4:30 p.m., 7:00 p.m., and 10:00 p.m., with Christmas music beginning 30 minutes before each service. Our Christmas Day service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Please invite your relatives, friends, and neighbors.

NUT/CANDY SALE 

NUT/CANDY SALE: Back by popular demand, the Vestry is selling nuts/candy. You may purchase them in the great hall after the morning services.

VESTRY NOMINATION FORMS 

VESTRY NOMINATION FORMS: Members who want to be considered as candidates for election to our vestry, or local governing board, will find the self-nomination forms on the tall table at the back of the church or from the church office. In order to be considered, applicants must be a confirmed member of Aquia Church (or must be in the process of being confirmed), must be receiving communion regularly, must be fulfilling a financial pledge to Aquia Church for 2025, and must make a financial pledge for 2026. For more information about the responsibilities of being a vestry member, please consult Father Morris or senior warden Bill Hoffman. Completed forms are due by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 16; there are several slots available for one-year terms and three-year terms.

YOUTH GROUP

YOUTH GROUP: Our Christmas party will be held in the youth room on this coming Sunday, Dec. 14 (5:00—6:00 p.m.). Teens are asked to bring a wrapped gift for our gift exchange ($5 limit on the fun gift/gag gift/candy item). Teens are also welcomed to bring friends and refreshments for the party. Also, we continue our weekly morning meetings for teens in grades 6-12 (9:30—10:15 a.m.).

FELLOWSHIP BREAKFAST

FELLOWSHIP BREAKFAST: There are plenty of Sundays awaiting folks to serve as breakfast hosts, starting with Dec. 28 and Jan. 11. If you want to serve as a breakfast host for any Sunday, please use the signup sheet at the back of the church, or contact Sue Selz in the church office (sue.selz@aquiachurch.org or 540-659-4007). Please consider taking a turn in promoting fellowship within our parish through this weekly breakfast. The breakfast can be as simple or elaborate as you wish to provide.

WEDNESDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY

WEDNESDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY: Postponed until further notice.

THURSDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY

THURSDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY:  Father James Rickenbaker’s series on the Book of Habbakuk in the Old Testament will continue through Thursday, Dec. 18. We hope you can join us in person (starting at 6:00 p.m.); if not, the broadcasts are available online at our Facebook page, which is <www.facebook.com/AquiaEpiscopalChurch>. Broadcasts of recent sessions are available there too.

SUNDAY SCHOOL

SUNDAY SCHOOL: There will be no Sunday school classes on Dec. 21 nor on Dec. 28, but they will resume with activities for children during our parish’s annual meeting on Sunday, Jan. 4.

ALTAR FLOWERS

ALTAR FLOWERS: Those who want to donate flowers in memory of someone or in thanksgiving for someone or something for most any Sunday of the year may contact parish administrator Sue  Selz in the church office and select a particular Sunday; the signup sheet is also available at the back of the church. The cost is $50/week. Even if a given Sunday has already been claimed, you may add your name and dedication for that same Sunday. Traditionally, we do not have flower arrangements during Lent or Advent, but most other Sundays during the year remain available.

FROM OUR FOOD MINISTRIES

FROM OUR FOOD MINISTRIES: The long lines of guests coming on Wednesdays for food from Aquia’s Pantry and Aquia’s Table likely reflect the ongoing financial need among so many neighbors around us. This level of outreach is possible because of the generosity of support from faithful volunteers and donations from many different people and groups—from among our parishioners and beyond our church membership. If you can offer some support to these ministries (especially with your time on Tuesday mornings and during the day and early evening on Wednesdays or with financial contributions), your help will be deeply appreciated. Aquia’s Table prepares a maximum total of 400 meals on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, and Aquia’s Pantry distributes groceries to a maximum of 140 households each week. Please note: when Stafford County Public Schools are closed for inclement weather, our food ministries do not operate that day.

AQUIA'S PANTRY EARLY DECEMBER UPDATE

AQUIA'S PANTRY EARLY DECEMBER UPDATE: Our gracious God continues to affirm the ministry of Aquia’s Pantry by giving us what we need to give to our guests each week. On Nov. 19 we were able to offer groceries as well as a turkey, chicken, pork shoulder, or salmon filet to a record 180 families. On the day before Thanksgiving, which is traditionally the lowest attended pantry of the year, we gave groceries and meat to 116 families (up 34 families from 2024). Much of these offerings were made possible through the generosity of our parish family. Thank you, Aquia Church, for helping this ministry that improves the lives of others. Our current donation needs include hams and turkeys to give out on Dec. 17, as well as egg cartons and pasta. We also need additional volunteers to pick up Day-End Dough-Nations from Panera Bread on Mondays at 9:00 p.m. If you can help, please contact Gene Cole (gene.cole@cfsw.biz). Please note: Aquia’s Table will NOT operate during the week of Christmas but WILL operate during the week of New Year’s Eve.

NEWS FROM AQUIA’S TABLE

NEWS FROM AQUIA’S TABLE: Aquia’s Table serves meals on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. There are opportunities for folks to join in the work of this important ministry, whether as a new volunteer or whether returning to involvement—we welcome assistance with food preparation during the day on Wednesdays, with plating the meals on Wednesday evenings, and with baking desserts on your own schedule at home or at church. For more information about how you might support Aquia’s Table, please contact Dina Stanford (jjanddina@comcast.net). Please note: Aquia’s Table will have Dec. 17 as its last day for serving in this calendar year, resuming service on Jan. 7, 2026.

NURSERY AVAILABLE

NURSERY AVAILABLE: Our nursery, located on the lower level of the Christian Formation and Fellowship Building (just across the hallway from the elevator), is available for the 10:30 a.m. worship service, with coverage provided by caring, trained, and experienced staff—plus lots of toys, diapers and wipes, a pack-and-play, and whatever else your child or grandchild might need.

BUSY BAGS

BUSY BAGS: Busy bags are available in the historic church for our youngest members. A child’s Bible, activity pages, drawing paper, and crayons are available in canvas bags when you enter the church. Please take one bag per family and return it after the service ends.

ELECTRONIC BROADCASTS

ELECTRONIC BROADCASTS: We offer broadcasts of Sunday morning worship at 7:30 a.m., Morning Prayer on most weekdays at 8:00 a.m., and our midweek Bible studies as well. These broadcasts are particularly helpful for those who are unable to attend in person due to illness, travel, or work. The broadcasts are available online at our church’s Facebook page <www.facebook.com/AquiaEpiscopalChurch>. Even if you do not have a Facebook account, you can access the broadcasts simply by clicking on the given occasion. Also, you do not have to watch the event live; the videos are stored there for your viewing later on.

 

If you want to be added to our e-mail distribution list for weekly announcements and special updates or for the monthly Cross Section newsletter, simply notify Sue Selz in the church office (sue.selz@aquiachurch.org or 540-659-4007).